Even though Rick Clunn sits at the bottom of today’s leaderboard after Day One of the 2023 Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray, as the weigh-in progressed it was his words that spoke most loudly to me.
Long ago, he opined that “if you want to learn the owl, study the mouse,” and indeed the reason that Murray’s bass are so gluttonous is the presence of their main forage species, the blueback herring. Indeed, we have not heard this much discussion of herring in one sitting since the last time Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner had breakfast together. Not every angler in the field got rich on the baitfish spawn, but they ignored it at their extreme peril.
“A largemouth is not a largemouth on this body of water,” Mark Zona said, referring to their often pelagic nature. These are a special breed of ocean ponies, and the field made the lake show out. It took 17-05 to slide into the cut.
We hear all the time about great urban fisheries like St. Clair, which abuts Detroit, Norman, next to Charlotte, and the Potomac, which meanders through D.C., but even though Columbia is not quite as much of a metropolis as those areas, this may be the greatest bass-related urban playpen in the country.
Rollin’ on Twenties – It wasn’t just about numbers of fish that made it great. The big fish was leader Matt Robertson’s 6 pound 14 ounce specimen, but the sheer number of 3- and 4-pounders is what makes this place special. A 3-pound average was good for 70th-place. There were 16 bags of 20 or more pounds. By comparison, at the season-opener on Okeechobee, there were only 10 of them although Bernie Schultz’s 28-11 and Scott Martin’s 25-11 bested Robertson’s weight here. In that tournament Steve Kennedy was the only angler to hit 20 three times. At the follow-up derby on Seminole, the big bag on Day One was 21-13 and there were five bags over 20. Three anglers hit 20 pounds twice.
By the Numbers – Sixteen bags of 20 or more pounds. Eleven bags between 19 and 20. Fourteen bags between 18 and 19. One or two spit-up bluebacks are going to make someone – or several someones — very unhappy this week.
The Last Time – Casey Ashley, the 2015 Bassmaster Classic champion, won the last time the Elites visited Murray, in May of 2011. His biggest bag that week was 15-13, which would have him in 65th today. The runner-up was 1999 Classic champ and current-commentator Davy Hite. Mike Iaconelli, the 2003 Classic champ, came in third with an average of 14 1/2 pounds a day.
Is it Better to Have Loved and Lost – Time and again anglers spoke on stage of the hundreds of fish they could see everywhere but could not get to commit. It’s reassuring to know that you’re around them, but a special kind of frustrating to be unsure of if or when they might bite – or whether the proper strategic play is to leave altogether. “They’re the most educated bass in the country,” Matt Arey said.
What’s the Cut – As noted above, the cut weight was 17-05, and using the time-tested and slightly reliable metric, we double that and add a pound to figure out what it should take to get to Saturday. That puts us at 35-10. Again, the difference between 15 pounds and 19 pounds is 43 places, so expect to see some flip-flopping tomorrow, especially amongst those pros in the 16- and 17-pound range.
Famous Murrays – Murray Rothbard (economist), F. Murray Abraham (actor), Murray Lender (bagel magnate), Eddie Murray (home run hitter and owner of a quality mustache), Ty Murray (rodeo cowboy), Bill Murray (Ghostbuster).
Famous Fishing Murrays – No story about this famous word/name would be complete without brothers Bobby and Billy Murray, legends of the sport, the former the first two-time Classic winner. Both are members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. There’s also two-time US Open champ and western icon John Murray.
Where are the locals – South Carolina anglers were all over the scoreboard, with Patrick Walters in 3rd, Brandon Cobb in 10th, Jason Williamson in 20th, and pre-tournament favorite Bryan New in 78th.
Lots of Limits – Bradley Hallman, currently 94th, with four fish for 12-05, was the top-placing angler without a limit. Clent Davis, 99th with five for 10-07, was the lowest-placing angler with a limit.
AOY Watch – After two and a quarter tournaments, it may be a bit early to try to dial in the Angler of the Year race, but Tyler Rivet, Brandon Cobb and Shane LeHew, who entered Murray in 1st, 4th and 8th kept up the pace. They currently sit In 12th, 10th and 15th in the tournament. Meanwhile, Joey Cifuentes and Brandon Card, who were in 3rd and 5th, respectively, are both sitting below 90th at Murray. Heading into today, none of the Top 10 in AOY standings had ever won either the AOY title or a Classic. Greg Hackney, who was 11th, has won an AOY.
Word of the Day – It may be the neighboring Carolina that sports a team with this name, but there was lots of chatter about the “wolfpack” today.
Solid Bet – No one moped.
Remember, as the title sponsor indicates, this one’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint.
